Katie Oliver’s

answers are in!

 

And not only did she answer those questions, but she gave me the blurb for 

 

Who Needs Mr. Willoughby? releases March 24!

Who should rule – your head or your heart?

When sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood are forced to leave their family home to live in a rural Northumberland cottage, Marianne is convinced her social life is over. Somehow, she can’t see kitten heels coping well in the countryside – and being stuck in the middle of nowhere, miles from London, sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. Not to mention her arrogant new boss, Dr Brandon, who doesn’t seem to think much of her city ways.

When she meets the gallant, charming and handsome Mr Willoughby, Marianne begins to think that country life might not be so bad after all…especially when he suggests that marriage might be on the cards. But the countryside still has a few tricks up its sleeve for Marianne…after all, love rarely blossoms in the most convenient places!

 

Now for the answers to your questions! 

When did you read your first Jane Austen novel and which one was it? What was your initial reaction to it?
(Carole in Canada)

I first read Pride & Prejudice in the mid 1990s after seeing the BBC miniseries and buying the boxed set. I read it again after I watched the film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen in 2005. I was astonished anew at what an amazing story it was, and how well it’s held up; and as an aspiring writer at the time, I had a deeper appreciation of Miss Austen’s characters, their conflicts, and of the emotional connection between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Initially, I feared the book would be difficult to get through – the period language, the slower pace of the narrative – and wondered if I’d be able to finish it. But despite my reservations I found myself drawn into the story and raced through it in less than a week.

 

Which is your favorite Jane Austen novel and why?
(Debbie Fortin)

This is a difficult question! How to choose just one favorite? I would have to say Pride and Prejudice. It was the first Austen novel I ever read, and it left a lasting impression on me.  Elizabeth Bennet is a young woman who knows her own mind and is determined to marry for nothing less than love. Strong characters, and strong conflict…and who can resist Mr Darcy? He’s without a doubt the most memorable – and most initially misunderstood – hero in literature.

Emma and Northanger Abbey are two other favorites.

 

 

What appeals most to you about Jane Austen’s female characters?
(Joy Dawn King)

Austen’s female characters are without exception strong, nuanced, and relatable in their all-too-human failings…and it’s those failings that make them relevant to the modern reader. They wanted the same things then that we want today – to find happiness, to love and be loved.

 

Which Austen hero is your favorite?
(Joy Dawn King)

I think Mr Knightley has to be my favorite Austen hero. I like his steadfastness and his refusal to tell Emma anything less than the unvarnished truth about herself, even though she might not like it…because he cares for her and sees her worth underneath all of the meddling. It’s that ability to see in her what others do not that makes him appealing.

 

 

Who is your favorite Jane Austen villain and why?
(Debbie Fortin)

I cannot STAND John Thorpe. He gives me the creepy-crawlies. *shudders* He’s thuggish and underhanded…which makes him the perfect villain, though, doesn’t it?

 

 

In your opinion, who is the most comedic character in Jane Austen’s stories?
(Joy Dawn King)

Well, Catherine Morland is amusing, with her runaway imagination. She gets everything so spectacularly wrong. But the funniest character overall has to be Mrs Bennet, with her megrims and dramatics and her absolute obsession with marrying off her daughters to the richest husbands. Poor Mr Bennet…

 

Which Jane Austen character would your family say you are most like?
(Joy Dawn King)

I’m probably most like Catherine Morland of Northanger Abbey – always letting my imagination get away from me and always reading a book. And like Catherine, I tend to sometimes be a bit too trusting and take people at their word, which can lead to disappointment.

 

 

Does your husband share any characteristics with Austen’s heroes? Which hero? Which characteristic?
(Joy Dawn King)

Great question! While I’d love it if he looked like Colin Firth (le sigh), he’s very honest, like Mr Knightley, and fun to be with, like Henry Tilney…although he knows next to nothing about textiles. (Or Jane Austen.) Lol. But he’s a good sport about watching the movies with me…and he loved the film ‘Becoming Jane.’ So he scored big points for that.

 

 

Does your family know you write?
(Joy Dawn King)

Yes, they do. They think it’s great, and they’re very proud of me, but I don’t think they really understand it. I have a feeling they think I watch TV and eat Cheezits all day. (I don’t. I swear.)

 

 

Do you have a special place in which to write?
(Anji)

I like to write at the laptop on my desk, in my office just off the bedroom. It’s quiet, and I definitely need quiet when I write. There’s a set of French doors I can close, and there’s a ceiling fan, a TV, and two sofas, so I can – and do! – live back there when I’m on a deadline.

 

 

Do you have a special time of day and place to write?
(Debbie Fortin)

I do my best writing in the morning, when my brain is rested and sharp. By about two or three o’clock, I’m useless. Lol. I typically use the afternoon to read over what I’ve written and mark it for corrections, or if I’m not writing, to schedule a few Tweets and Facebook posts and do a bit of promo. I’m always woefully behind on promo.

 

 

When writing do you need quiet or do you listen to music, and if so what kind?
(Debbie Fortin)

I absolutely crave quiet when I write. But I do like to listen to my iPod when I’m on the treadmill…songs can be very inspirational to the writing process, no question. My musical tastes are all over the map. I like everything from Fleetwood Mac and the Clash to Pink, the Beatles, Carly Simon, B.B. King, and Gwen Stefani.

Do you have a set schedule for writing – number of hours or words per day?
(Anji)

If I’m on a deadline, yes, I definitely do! When I wrote the JA Factor books, for example, I had to hit 10k a week for ten weeks to make the contracted 80k length requirement…times three. So I was at my desk every morning by seven and wrote until about 1 PM, had lunch, then read through what I’d written and made changes. The next day I made the corrections and picked up with the story. I did this starting in late April of last year through the end of October. It was intense, but I enjoyed every moment.

 

 

What is it that draws you to the modern comedy a la Jane Austen?
(Jen Red)

Like Jane, I find that we humans are an endless source of amusement. With our insecurities and jealousies, our desire to love and be loved, our vulnerabilities, and the tendency to be our own worst enemies, we make a contrary bunch.  But therein lies the fun, the drama, and the fascination…

 

 

Do you follow an outline or fly by the seat of your pants?
(Anji)

I write a general outline before I begin, sketching out the major conflict(s), characters, and story arc. I know the beginning and I know the end. But once I start writing, I’m more of a pantser, letting stuff happen as the story unfolds, as long as I don’t stray too far from my plot.

 

 

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night because your characters have invaded your dreams?Do you have pen and paper on your nightstand ready to go if they do?
(Carole in Canada)

No… But I did have this really great dream about Leo DiCaprio the other night… Lol. I think because I’m so focused on my characters during waking hours when I write, at night I’m too tired to dream of anything but the usual silly things – being lost in high school on my first day of school is one that reoccurs every now and then.

I’ve thought about keeping a notepad and pen on hand if I ever have a great idea in the middle of the night; but I’d probably just write down a bunch of gibberish, so I haven’t tried it. But maybe I should!

 

 

When your muse decides to be uncooperative what do you do to get her cooperation again (walking, cleaning, listen to music, etc)?
(Debbie Fortin)

Good question. I get up and move, usually – take a walk, get on the treadmill, vacuum, or watch TV; maybe take a shower – anything that gives my mind a little break. A change of scenery also does the trick.

 

 

How often do your characters take over and move the story in an unexpected direction?
(Anji)

All. The. Time. Characters often have a way of changing things on me! But the story is almost always improved when that happens. If my characters try to nudge me aside and take the reins, so to speak, that means they’ve developed distinct personalities. (At least, I hope that’s what it means!)

 

 

Do you pattern your hero/heroine after a real-life human? Who?
(Joy Dawn King)

I usually base my hero and heroine on an actor or actress whose face and temperament fit my image of the character. For my next book, Who Needs Mr Willoughby, I pictured Matthew Goode (Leap Year) as Dr Brandon, and Lily James (Cinderella, Downton Abbey) as Marianne.

 

 

If you could ask Jane Austen one question that she would thoroughly address, what would it be?
(Joy Dawn King)

Well, as a writer myself, I would love to know what Jane’s writing process was. Did she plan out her plots? Rewrite? Did she have a favorite place to write? Did she like to write in the morning, or the afternoon? How many drafts did she write before she was satisfied with her efforts?

 

 

If you could spend a month in Regency England, what three items would you take with you?
(Joy Dawn King)

Hmm…that’s a tough one! I’d probably take my iPad. I can’t live without my iPad. (Although wi-fi might present a slight problem.) But it would be a great conversation starter with a handsome Regency buck, wouldn’t it? Plus I’d have a camera to document my visit. Then, I think I’d bring along a good pair of walking shoes. Finally, I’d need sunblock (or maybe a parasol?) to protect my skin while taking a stroll in the sunshine.

 

 

This was great fun! I want to thank each and every one of you who took the time to leave a question. Such excellent questions they were, too! I hope I’ve provided a little insight into my writing process, such as it is. I’ve enjoyed my visit and thank you all for participating.

 

Just to remind you of the other books in the Jane Austen Factor series – 

What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? 

Blurb:  When your name is Lizzy Bennet and Mr Darcy lives next door, romance is anything but simple…

Especially since a film crew has just arrived to shoot Pride and Prejudice at the Darcy estate! And when Hugh Darcy, the one who got away, arrives home after 8 years absence, Lizzy can’t help but think it’s fate. Until, that is, he introduces her to Holly – his fiancée…

What can Lizzy do but try not to feel too prejudiced against Hugh’s new woman – a city girl who knows nothing about country life, and seems more concerned with her film star ex than her current fiancé?

There’s no denying that there’s something suspicious about Holly’s interest in Hugh…and when he begins to have doubts about his high-maintenance fiancée, it seems a break up is on the cards. But is it too late for Lizzy to swallow her pride and get her Austen ending after all?

 

The Trouble With Emma 

Blurb:  There’s a fine line between matchmaking and meddling…

Stuck in a boring job, living at home with her parents and without even a glimmer of romance on the horizon, Emma Bennet’s life isn’t turning out how she planned. And since hit reality show Mind Your Manors started being filmed at the Bennet household, she’s felt more like a spare part than ever.

Matchmaking her assistant, Martine, is just the distraction Emma needs – and, whether Martine likes it or not, Emma is determined to see her coupled up before long! But when she meets Mark Knightley, the genius behind Mind Your Manors, Emma finds her own heart on the line…

Mark is everything Emma isn’t: quiet, reserved…and forever minding his own business! And suddenly, Emma is determined to prove to Mark that she’s ready to stop thinking about other people’s love lives – and focus on her own.

 

Don’t forget to comment

for a chance at Katie’s awesome giveaway!

 

Plus

Bookmarks for her new series!

Rules for the giveaway – 

If you asked a question on this post, you have 1 chance in the drawing.

If you comment on the final interview, you get 1 chance in the drawing.

If you leave a question and a comment, you get 2 chances in the drawing!

Please join in! Leave a comment! Authors love hearing from you! 

**Final date for comments to qualify for the giveaway is Wednesday 16 January

Please leave those questions below!

 

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